On Tuesday, it was reported that Lin still had swelling in his knee and would be out for three more weeks, so his absence in the first round comes as no surprise to Knicks fans. If the Knicks manage to advance, however, it is undetermined whether the 23-year-old will be able to suit up and take the floor.

After a tremendous start to his season, Lin disclosed that he had a sore knee following a game against the Pistons on March 24. He underwent an MRI exam and it was revealed that he had a small meniscus tear in his left knee. Lin underwent knee surgery on March 31 and hasn’t played since.

Prior to his setback, the six-foot-three California native averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists in 26.9 minutes over 35 games played.

No surprise here, but how much of a difference would it make to have Lin on the floor in the first round? Share your thoughts and comments below…